About Us

Chabad-Lubavitch is a philosophy, a movement, and an organization.
It is considered to be the most dynamic force in Jewish life today.

Philosophy:

The word "Chabad" is a Hebrew acronym for the three intellectual faculties of: chachmah-wisdom, binah-comprehension and da'at-knowledge. The movement's system of Jewish religious philosophy teaches understanding and recognition of the Creator, the role and purpose of Creation, and the importance and unique mission of each Creation. This philosophy guides a person to refine and govern his and her every act and feeling through wisdom, comprehension and knowledge.

"Lubavitch" is the name of the town in White Russia where the movement was based for more than a century. Appropriately, the word Lubavitch in Russian means the "city of brotherly love." The name Lubavitch conveys the essence of the responsibility and love engendered by the Chabad philosophy toward every single Jew.

Movement:
Following its inception 250 years ago, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement swept through Russia and spread in surrounding countries as well. It provided scholars with answers that eluded them and simple farmers with a love that had been denied of them. Eventually the philosophy of Chabad-Lubavitch and its adherents reached almost every corner of the world and affected almost every facet of Jewish life.

Leadership:
The movement is guided by the teachings of its seven leaders ("Rebbe"'s), beginning with Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, of righteous memory (1745-1812). These leaders expounded upon the most refined and delicate aspects of Jewish mysticism, creating a corpus of study thousands of books strong. They personified the age-old, Biblical qualities of piety and leadership. And they concerned themselves not only with Chabad-Lubavitch, but with the totality of Jewish life, spiritual and physical. No person or detail was too small or insignificant for their love and dedication.

In our generation, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson known simply as "the Rebbe(Teacher)," guided post-Holocaust Jewry to a renaissance from the ravages of that devastation.

Organization:
The origins of today's Chabad-Lubavitch organization can be traced to the early 1940's when the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of righteous memory (1880-1950), appointed his son-in-law and later successor, Rabbi Menachem Mendel, to head the newly-founded educational and social service arms of the movement.

Motivated by his profound love for every Jew and spurred by his boundless optimism and self-sacrifice, the Rebbe set into motion a dazzling array of programs, services and institutions to serve every Jew.

Today 4,000 full-time emissary families apply 250 year-old principles and philosophy to direct more than 2,700 institutions (and a workforce that numbers in the tens of thousands) dedicated to the welfare of the Jewish people worldwide.

Chabad in Medford, a branch of this world-wide movement, is directed by Rabbi Yitzchok and Baily Kahan.

We have one question for you: "How can we help you?"

Our Goal?

The Chabad in Medford was founded with an over-arching vision. Although Jews may embrace many levels of observance in their personal lives, there should be a place for all Jews - no labels, no affiliations - to develop a sense of community, to enhance the experience of being Jewish, to learn and to have fun. With tolerance, sincerity and deeply rooted values, Chabad can help you find that Jewish Center in your heart. Everyone is welcome to participate in an exciting voyage - to discover our rich heritage.

*Rabbi Yitzchok Kahan
was born and raised in the Chassidic community of Crown heights, Brooklyn. He is the fifth child in his family.

After spending his high school years in Manchester England, and in Migdal Haemek, Israel, he returned to New York where he graduated with honors from the Rabbinical Academy Oholei Torah in Brooklyn. From there Rabbi Kahan was selected to go to Johannesburg, South Africa where he did his internship in outreach work. During the two years that he was there, he taught in the Torah Academy Boys High School, and ran many programs there such as winter and summer camps.

Rabbi Kahan also spent the summers and holidays, traveling to Brazil, Zimbabwe, and Russia, reaching out to unaffiliated Jews. At the age of 22 Rabbi Kahan received his rabbinical ordination from Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch.

In 2002 Rabbi Kahan married the former Baily Lerman. They have seven children, Liebel, Yosef, Chaim, Zev, Levi, Sarah and Chanoch

Rabbi Kahan is the Director of Chabad in Medford and the program and youth director of Chabad Lubavitch of Camden and Burlington Counties and .

Baily Kahan
was born in Israel and raised in the Chassidic community of Crown Heights, in Brooklyn, N.Y.

After attending Beth Rivkah High School, she studied for a year in Israel in a teacher’s college. Upon returning to New York she completed a year in a teacher’s training seminary, and went on to receive her Bachelors degree in psychology from Thomas Edison College.

Baily Kahan has taught at various schools. For four years she was a teacher at the Silberstein Hebrew Academy in Great Neck, Long Island. She has also done outreach work during the summers in places such as Vilnius, Lithuania, Fairfax, Virginia and Cincinnati, Ohio.

Chabad of Medford is an affiliate of Chabad Lubavitch of Camden & Burlington Counties